Expanded-metal structure



"'Jan. 6, 1931. w, A BATES EXPANDED METAL STRUCTURE Filed Deo. 6 1925 2 Sheets-Sheet l Jan. 6, 1931.

W. A. BATES EXPANDED METAL STRUCTURE Filed Dec. 6, 1925 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented Jan. 6, 1931 UNITED STATES PATENT oFFlcE WALTER A. BATES. 0F GARY, INDIANA. ASSIGNO'R T0 WALTER BATES STEEL CORPORA- TION, 0F GARY, INDIANA, A CORPORATION 0F DELAWARE EXPANDED-METAL STRUCTURE Application filed December 6, 1926. Serial No. 152,799.V

The present invention relates to improvements in expanded metal structures.

An object of the present invention is to provide an expanded metal structure which ma be manufactured at relativel small cost an which will have considera l greater strength than built up structures o the same weight.

A further object is to provide a structural steel member of relatively great strength which may be manufactured at small cost from ordinary commercial rolled steel shapes.

A further object is to provide an improved method of making structures such as those referred to above.

Further objects will appear as the description proceeds.

Referring to the drawings- Figures 1, 2 and 3 are views in plan, side elevation and end elevation, respectively, of an an le which has been cut and stretched in accor ance with the principles of the present invention;

Figures 4 and 5 illustrate in side elevation and end elevation, respectively, a column or girder made up of four members such as illustrated in Figures l to 3, inclusive the amount of stretch being somewhat diiferent, however' F igures 6 and 7 show a side elevation 'and an end elevation, respectively, of another form of column or girder which may be manufactured from memberssuch as are illustrated in Figures 1 to 3, except that both legs of each angle are cut and stretched;

Figures 8 and 9 show, respectively, side and end elevations of a structure similar to that shown in Figures 4 and 5, except that the angles are turned with the legs out instead of in, making a slightly larger structure in cross section, with no increase in weight;

Figures 10 and 11 illustrate in side and end elevation, respectively, a structure similar in some respects to the structure shown in Figures 8 and 9, except that both legs of each angle are cut and stretched.

Figures 12 and 13 are side and end elevations, respectively, of another type of column or girder which falls within the scope of the present invention, said Figures 12 and 13 showing shapes developed from the shapes shown in Figures 10 and 11.

Figure 14 is an end elevation of still another type of structure falling within the sco e of the present invention;

igures 15 and 16 are views in side elevation of the structure shown in Figure 14, Flgures 15 and 16 showing views taken at riht angles to one another;

igure 17 is a pole section made up of shapes such as illustrated in Figures 14 to 16, inclusive; and

Figures 18 and 19 are front and side elevations of poles made up according to the structure shown in Figure 17.

The present invention has been illustrated in connection with a structural steel member which takes the form of an angle. As the description proceeds, however, it will be clear that the invention is not limited to angles, but is applicable to other commercial shapes as well.

Referring first to Figures l to 3, the numeral 15 indicates an angle having the flanges 15a and 15b, one of which legs (indicated by the numeral 15a) is provided with a pair of longitudinally extending cuts 16-16, the extremities of which are spaced apart by the uncut portions 17-17. The cuts 16-16 do not involve the removal of any metal. Not only is the metal cut as indicated by the numerals 16-16, but the edge l portion of the flange is swedged or stretched to provide diagonals, indicated by the 11umerals 18-18, which diagonals 18-18 are symmetrically disposed relative to the uncut portions 17-17 between the cuts 16-16. Disposed symmetrically with relation to the diagonals 18-18 are the flat portions 19-19, each of which Hat portions 19--19 is provided with a hole 20, whereby the angle swedged as shown in Figures 1, 2 and 3 may be riveted or otherwise secured to a similarly swedged angle to form part of a finished truss such as shown in Figures 4 and 5.

From an inspection of said Figures 4 and 5 it will be noted that four swedged members such as are shown in Figures 1 to 3 are connected together to form a truss or pole,

the ortions 19-19 being riveted to the unswe ged flange of an adjacent swedged member of like conformation. It will be noted that the structure shown in Figures 4 and 5 comprises a square or box-laced column or girder.

Referring now to Figures 6 and 7, it will be noted that both flanges of the angle meinber are cut and swedged in the manner illustrated in Figures 1 to 3, inclusive. Said swedged angle members are connected together at the regions 19-19 to form a box girder. According to the structure shown in Figures 6 and 7, one lacing comprlsing diagonals 18-18 and flat portion 19 of each leg passes through the other lacing of such leg. Depending upon the amount of stretch or expansion of the lacings, a perfectly square structure or one oblong in section may be had. l Referring now to the structure shown in Figures 8 and 9, it will be noted that the direction of the lacings for each individual angle are opposite to the direction of the lacings shown in Figures 1 to 3. Moreover, according to the structure shown in Figures 8 and 9, the angles are turned inwardly; or, expressed in other language, the legs are turned out instead of in, making a slightly larger structure in cross section than the structure shown in Figures 4 and 5 with no increase in weight.

Referring to Figures 10 and 11, it will be noted that both legs of the angle are cut and stretched, the direction of stretch being opposite to the direction illustrated in Figures 6 and 7.

The structure shown in Figures 12 and 13 comprises angles which have been cut and sheared in the same manner as the angles shown in Figures 1() and 11. According to Figures 12 and 13, however, the operation is carried a step further, and the lacin s are swung at right angles. This will be o vious if the angle at the lower left-hand corner of Figure 11 be considered as having its righthand lacing swung ina clockwise direction through an angle of 90 and its upwardly extending lacing swung in a counterclockwise direction through an angle of 90. Under these condit'ions each angle will have the conformation of the angles shown in Fi ure 13.

eferring to Figures 14 to 19, it will be noted that one of the flanges has its lacing directed inwardly of the angle and the other of the flanges has its lacing directed outwardly of the angle; otherwise said angle is the same as that referred to in the preceding figures. Figure 17 illustrates how the angles shown in Figures 14, 15 and 16 may be connected together to form a pole or truss.

Figures 18 and 19, which are front and side elevations of the same structure, show that by varyin the dimensions of the lacin from one end o the angle to the other, the imensions of the resulting strut may be varied to produce a pole of tapering dimensions from bottom to top.

It will be noted that the lacings are disposed within a locus defined by an elongated polygonal or rectangular figure'which may or may not taper throughout its length.

Though a number of modifications of the present invention have been illustrated, it will be understood that many others will occur to those skilled in the art. It is intended to cover all such modifications that fall within the sco of the appended claims.

lVhat is claimedwis- 1. A fabricated structure comprising a plurality of commercial shapes, each of said commercial shapes' comprising a air of flanges in right angular relationship with each other, one of the flanges of each of said shapes having a portion of the material thereof swediged to provide lacings, said lacings having at portions normal to the plane of the other of said flanges and being connected at their two extremities to said one flange, said flat portions being disposed in contact with the next adjacent structural steel member said lacings of said plurality of commercial shapes being disposed within the locus of an elongated rectangular frame.

2. A fabricated structure comprising a plurality of commercial shapes, each of said commercial shapes comprising an angular member having flanges adjacent to one another, one of the flanges of each of said commercial shapes having lacings swedged therefrom bounded by broken lines in alignment with one another, said lacings of each of said shapes being swedged from their corresponding flange in a direction normal to their corresponding flange, and each being connected at its two extremities to its corresponding flange, the lacings of each of said shapes being secured to the next adjacent shape to form said fabricated structure, said lacings being disposed within the locus of an elongated polygonal frame.

3. A fabricated structure comprising a plurality of commercial shapes, each of said shapes comprising a pair of flanges in angular relationship with each other, the edge portions of corresponding flanges of said shapes being swedged at right angles to said flanges to form lacings relative to said flanges, said lacing being of V-shaped conformation having their extremities secured to said flanges, said lacings of each of said shapes being secured to the next adjacent shape, said lacings being disposed within the locus de- I;

fined by an elongated polygonal frame.

4. A fabricated structure comprising a plurality of commercial shapes, each of said commercial shapes comprising a pair of flanges in angular relationship with each other, the edge rtions of each of said ianges being swe ged at right angles to said anges to form lacin s relatlve to said flanges, said lacings being o V-shaped conformation having their extremities secured to their corresponding flanges, the laicings of each of said shapes being secured to the next adjacent shape, said lacings being disposed Within the lfocus defined by an elongated polygonal rame. 1 Signed at Chicago, Illinois, this 30th day of November, 1926.

WALTER A. BATES. 

